Apparatus for pulling over shoe uppers



Aug. 27, 1940. J. M. ROHRER APPARATUS FOR PULLING OVER SHOE UPPERS 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOE r 7 ,7 m i 4 A filo 1 a w 4 m 5 A 7 A 0. r .r/ 1

Aug. 27, 1940.

J. M. ROHRER APPARATUS FOR PULLING OVER SHOE U PPERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Criginal Filed Sept. 29, 1931 I vzm'orz-i dohn Milfn Eohrer,

Aug. 27, 1 940.

J. M. ROHR'ER 2,212,553

APPARATUS FOR PULLING OVER SHOE UPPERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original FiledSept. 29, 1931 Swami?! A Mitu I Patented Aug. 27, 1940 ATEr OFFICEAPPARATUS FOR PULLING oven SHOE UPPERS .John Milton Rohrer, Orwigsburg,Pa.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No.

565,815, September 29, 1931;

This applicatio October 10, 1938, Serial No. 234,319

21 Claims.

This application is for the same subject-matter as my application forpatent filed Sept. 29, 1931, Serial No. 565,815 which became abandoned.

invention relates to the manufacture of shoes, slippers, and similararticles of footwear,

and comprises improved apparatus for effecting "such work, whereby I amenabled to last a shoe without the application of tacks or other ex- 7traneous holdingmeans passing through the upper into. the last-orcarried by the latter. -The' particular object of my present inventionis -to provide means-in the form of a portable device for pulling-overand holding an upper to I atlast, preparatory to further operations uponsuch upperin the making of a shoe therefrom; such portable holdingdevice carrying gripping means-movable' -into engaging relation with aprojecting portion of the upper to hold the latter in a stretched orpulled-over condition upon the last.- From such' holding device the lastand the positioned upper thereon are transferred to a sectional mold andafter the last and upper have been gripped by the same, the holdingdevice is released. 25. A further objectof my invention is to providesimple and efficient mechanism for actuating into holding condition thegripping means'carried by the portable holder.

"A further object of my invention is to provide means for guiding thelast and upper with respect to the portable holding device and themechanism for actuating the gripping means into holding condition.

And a still further object of my invention is to provide means forreleasing the gripping means engaging the edge of the upper pulled overor stretched upon the last.

"fThese and other features of my invention are more fully set forthhereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, more orless diagrammatic in character, in which:

"Figurel'is a cross sectional View of one torm ofportable pulling-overdevice within the scope of my invention; showing a last with an upperpositioned thereon disposed upon a table portion ofthepulling-overdevice, and gripping means for engaging a portion of the upper in theopen or inoperative position. v

.Fig.;- 2is a similar sectional view showing the gripping means of thepulling-over device in the closedposition; the upper having beenstretched oy' e r the last and held in such position; such lasted-upperbeing ready for transfer to a'sectionalmold, which may be portable,wherein it is clamped in the pulled-over or stretched condition. 4

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portable pullingover device shown in Figs.1 and 2.

' Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation of the pullingot'er device, insection on the line IVIV, Fig. 3. 5

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a detail or" the releasing meansfor the gripping jaws.

Fig. 6 is a View in elevation of one form of mechanism which I mayemploy for actuating the gripping means of the pulling-over device shownin Figs. 1, 2, et seq.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating guiding means for the upper,which may be associated with the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the structure shown inFig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the plungersfor actuating the-grippingmeans of the pulling-over device, in section of the line IX-IX, Fig. 8,and

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a further detail of myinvention.

An important feature of my invention resides in the provision of meansfor holding an upper to a last without the application of tacks or, 25other extraneous securing means passing through the upper and designedor intended to hold the upper in position during the lasting operation.A common practice is to tack the upper in place upon the last, and meanshave been employed to effect the pulling over step of a lastingoperation and simultaneously apply a series of tacks to hold the upperto the last. This tacking operation is objectionable for severalreasons, among which may be mentioned the necessity of removing the 5tacks from the upper and last before the outsole is secured tothe upper,and the further danger of tacks breaking off and leaving projectingportions within the shoe.

For the purpose of pulling over the upper and holding the same in tautcondition upon the last I have provided means in the form of a portableholding device which supports the last and upper during and after thepulling over operation preparatory to placing them in a sectional andport- 45 able holding mold which confines the upper to the last in thestretched or pulled-over condition while the subsequent operations ofturning down and holding and/or wiping the projecting portion of theupper, which may be secured to the insole, or turned outwardly,preparatory to the application of the outsole, are being carried out.The outsole may be cemented fast to the insole and the turned over andwiped portion of the upper, or such sole may be secured to the upperand/or insole by a sewing operation which maybe effected by any of theshoe-sewing machines in well-known use.

In Figs. 1, 2, et seq., of the drawings I have shown a structure whichmay be termed a portable holder with means for pulling over andl/orstretching the upper upon the last and holding it preparatory tointroduction into the sectional mold; such holding device havinggripping devices or nippers which engage the extended portion of theupper; means for keeping such nippers in the closed position until thelast and positioned upper have been deposited in such sectional mold andclamped thereby, and means for simultaneously releasing the nippers.

This portable holder may comprise a frame I, substantially horse-shoeshape in contour, having flanges 2 and 2 and these flanges carry in asemicircle, which may correspond substantially to the toe contour,aplurality of sets of complemental jaws forming nippers and comprising aseries of lower jaws 3, carried by rods 4 passing through the flanges 2and 2?, and a series of upper jaws 5, carried by rods 8, which also passthrough the flanges 2 and 2 In addition,

l the holder has a support in the form of a table or plate 1 upon whichthe last and positioned upper are placed, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, etseq; with the'projecting or overhanging portion :0 of'the upperpositioned relatively between the respective jaws of the several sets ofnippers. The last and upper are placed on the table I of the frame Iafter the upper has been properly positioned, and then this portableholder is placed upon the table A of the structure shown in Fig. 5,beneath a. series of vertically movable plungers 8, which register withthe rods 6 carrying the jaws 5 of the nippers.

For the purpose of assisting in the positioning of the upper upon thetable or support 7 of the portable holder and with respect to theplungers 8 which act upon the rods 6 carrying the upper jaws 5, I mayprovide an adjustably mounted bar 9 having a. pad b which may besuitably mounted upon the table A in such position that when the holdingdevice is placed on said table beneath the plungers B, such pad willcontact with the toe portion of the upper and rest upon the same insubstantially the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The bar 9 may becarried by a bracket 9' adjustably secured to the table A.

The faces of the gripping jaws may have complemental gripping means, orthe upper jaws alone may have a series of teeth or projections 5 overtheir engaging face and when the plungers 8 are moved downward intoengagement with the rods b carrying said upper jaws 5, which operationmay be effected by suitable treadle mechanism B, the said jaws 5 engageand pull down the projecting portion at of the upper and clamp the sametightly with the lower jaw 3; continued movement of the plungers 8lowering the closed jaws with the engaged upper until a satisfactorylimit of movement is reached and the upper is stretched tautly over thelast. To hold the nippers in this position, the rods 6 may carry blocks5 having notched portions, and spring-pressed latches it, supported onpins Ill carried by the lower flange 2 of the portable holder haveprojections lil adapted to engage these notched portions of the blocks5* as the rods 55 are lowered under the influence of'th'e plungers 8.The loweredges'of the blocks 6 are preferably beveled at 6* and theupper ends of the latches are preferably beveled at W, to

facilitate engagement. The rods 4 and 6 may be square, or round. Ifround, they are preferably provided with keys so that they will beprevented from turning during their movement into and out of clampingposition.

Mechanism for actuating the plungers 8 to cause their engagement withthe upper jaws 5 of the nippers carried by the rods 6, is shown in Fig.5. It may comprise the table A supported by legs or standards a. Carriedby the table are guide members 0 for vertical rods 0; the latter beingconnected at their upper ends to a crosspiece D, from which depends arod E supporting a frame F made up of spaced plates 1, J" and Iconnected by bolts F, in which the series of vertically movable plungers8, equal in number to the sets of jaws of the pulling-over device anddisposed in exact registry with respect to the rods 6 of the same whenthe latter is posi tioned beneath said plungers, are mounted. Eachplunger is held down by a stiff spring 8 disposed between the collar Bthereon and the lower plate 1 of the frame F; the upper ends of theplungers B being supported from the plate f by heads 8, which may be inthe form of nuts.

The lower ends of the rods 0 are connected by a cross-piece D and thisin turn is connected to the treadle mechanism B, which includes the foottreadle b. When the pulling-over device is positioned beneath theplungers 8, an operation that may be facilitated by providing guidessuch as those indicated at A, preferably adjustable, on the table A, thefoot treadle is depressed by the operator; thereby bringing the severalspringpressed plungers 8 simultaneously into engagement with the upperjaws of the nippers carried by the rods 6 with the result that thenippers will be caused to grip the marginal edge a: of the upper andpull the latter tautly over the last; confining the last and upperthereto until ready for transfer to the sectional mold which engages andholds the last and the upper in the pulledover and stretched conditionthereon.

When the foot treadle b is released, the plungers 8 rise under theinfluence of the springs 8 and the portable holder carrying the last andthe pulled-over upper thereon may then be removed for transfer to asectional mold in the manner indicated in my application before referredto. The portable holder is inverted for this transfer; the sectionalmold having engaging portions following the contour of the last overwhich the upper is stretched, and these engaging portions are thenbrought into gripping contact with the stretched upper so as to hold itsecurely in the pulled-over condition for further operation thereon.

When the stretched upper and last have been finally positioned in thesectional mold and held, they are released from the portable holder bydisengaging the gripping jaws 3 and 5 from the projecting portion a. ofthe upper and this is effected by releasing the latches ID which haveserved to hold said jaws in the gripping position. By preference, theselatches are simultaneously released and this operation may be effectedby means of an actuating member in the form of a yoke-shaped plate ll,pivotally connected at ll to the frame or holder I and normally held inthe plane of the base of the same, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. Thisplate H is held in the inactive position by stems 12 attached tobrackets l3 carried by the front of the frame I; said stems having heads[2 which may lie in recesses H in the underside of the plate I I withsprings 14 encircling said stems I2 and lying betweenthetopjof'the'plateH and thebracketsl3. The

inner edge oi the plate H] is provided with a lcamfmCe'lP formed bybeveling the same as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and this fcam face"ism: operatiye position with respect to the ends of the latches l whenin their holding position, "asi'indicat'ed in Fig. '2. The low'erends ofthe latches are preferably beveled as indicated at l0 and when theportable holder is in the invertedposition over a sectional mold, theymay be simultaneously released from their engagement with the notchedportions of the blocks 6? carrie dby the rods "6 by pressure applied bythe plate I l, which may be given a sharp blow by, the jbperator. Forthis purpose the plate I I may have a projecting portion at the front towhich such blows maybe imparted,'as indicated at ll Figs. 3 and i. ,Thelatches it have a loose connection withlthe' pins w and when'they areengaged by, the plate- U for release, they are pushed against thesprings Hi which restore them to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereuponthe rods 6 are" permitted to rise. When the latches are released, therods4 and 6 may be returned to normal positionjthereby opening the jaws3 and 5, by the action of the springs 4 and 6, encircling saidfrods 4and 6; the springs 4 lying between fixed collars 4 carried by the rods 4a'nd'the flange, 2 whilethe springs 5? lie between theblocks 6 and saidflange 2 In the'arrangement of the plungers 8 shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9,simultaneous engagement with the, upper jaws 5 is provided for, and inthis connection'the action of these plungers is preferably'r'egul'atedas to the tension'of the springs 8 and the timing of the full engagementof said plungers il with respect to the gripping jaws. In some instancesit may be desirable to press the side grippingjaws down with greaterforce than the others so that the pull exerted by such sidegripping'}jaws is slightly greater than the pull exerted by the othergripping jaws. This effect may' be produced by increasing the tension ofthesprihgs 8? carried by the side plungers 8,

and relieving the tension of said springs upon the other plungers. Andsuch relief may be graduated, for instance, from the front plunger totheside plungers. It will be understood that the tension of the springs8 may be regulated by turningthe nuts 8* carried by the plungers 8 andand in Fig. I have illustrated diagrammatically an arrangement of theplungers wherein provision is made to engage the front set of grippingjaws first, and the others in regular suc- Cession until the sidegripping jaws are last 'engaged.

In this view the position of the several jaws with respect to theplungers ,8 is indicatedby projecting them in single planes, and it willbe understood that the central jaw of the group indicates the front jawof the holding device which, in this arrangement, is designed to befirst engaged by a plunger; the other jaws being engaged in gradualsuccession, as clearly indicated in such view. This arrangement may .be.desirable in the lasting of uppers made of. some leathers. Otherarrangements for the timed engagementof said plungers 8 with the jaws 5in any desired relation is within the scope of my invention.

In carryingout my improved method or process of pulling-over the upperupon a last with the use of my improved portable holder, the operatortakes a last of proper size and places thereon an upper; holding thesame in his hand and properly positioning the upper thereon with respectto the centre of the last. He then pulls the upper forward on the lastso that the rear or heel portion of the upper engages the curved heelportion of the last and is substantially flush with the top of the. same(in the case of low shoes) and/or is in proper position with respect tothe heel counter (in the case of high shoes) and then places the lastwith the upper over it, upon the table 1 of the portable pulling-overdevice shown in Figs. 1, 2, et seq. He then places the holding device onthe table A in proper position relatively to the guides A and the pad 9which engages the top of the upper at the toe portion thereof, andactuates the plungers 8 by operating the foot treadle b to lower. theplungers 8 and cause the nippers comprising the jaws 3 and 5 to engagethe. overhanging or projecting portion a: of the upper and pull the sametautly over the last; such nippers being locked by the latches it, sothat the holding device with the lasted upper may be picked up andinverted over an open sectional mold and placed therein and clampedthereto before the pulling-over or holdins device is released from thelast and upper in the manner described.

It will be understood that the pad 9 designed to assist in positioningthe lasted upper when the holding device is presented beneath theplungers 3 may be of suitable contour to engage such upper, and that itssupporting bar 9 is bifurcated as shown so that a plunger may passthrough the same. The bracket 9' supporting said arm Sis adjustable soas to accommodate different lengths and/or sizes of shoes.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the mechanismwhich I have described without departing from my invention, hence theappended claims are intended to cover the mechanism disclosed and suchmodifications thereof as would be naturally suggested by the employmentof such means in carrying out the several steps of such method.

, No claim is made to the method herein disclosed; the same forming thesubject of an application for patent filed July 31, 1940, Serial No.348,625.

I claim:

1. A portable pull-over device comprising a 7 frame adapted to receive alast and positioned upper, a plurality of pairs of spaced jaws disposedadjacent to a portion of said last and upper, rods mounted in said frameand separately supporting the jaws of each pair, means for moving saidrods whereby the jaws may be brought to clamping position upon a portionof the upper, engaging means carried by one of the rods of each pair,and pivoted latches carried by the frame and cooperating with saidengaging means for holding the jaws in clamping position and retainingthe last and upper to the frame of said pull-over device.

2. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame, a plurality of pairsof spaced jaws disposed adjacent to a portion of said'last'and up,

per, rods mounted in said frame and separately supporting the jaws ofeach pair, a support arranged between said jaws upon which a last andpositioned upper may be placed, means for moving said rods whereby thejaws may be brought to clamping position, engaging means carried by oneof the rods of each pair, and pivoted latches carried by the frame andcooperating with said engaging means for holding the jaws in clampingposition and retaining the last and upper to the support of saidpull-over device. I

3. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame adapted to receive alast and positioned upper, a plurality of pairs of independentlyoperable spaced jaws carried thereby, rods mounted in said frame andseparately supporting the jaws of each pair, means for moving said rodswhereby the jaws may be brought to clamping position upon a portion ofthe upper, notched members carried by one of the rods of each pair, andspring-pressed latches carried by the frame and engaging said notchedmembers for holding the jaws in clamping position and retaining the lastand upper to the frame of said pull-over device.

4. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame, a plurality of pairsof independently operable spaced jaws carried thereby, rods mounted insaid frame and separately supporting the jaws of each pair, a supportarranged between said jaws upon which a last and positioned upper may beplaced, means for moving said rods whereby the jaws may be brought toclamping position, notched members carried by one of the rods of eachpair, and spring-pressed latches carried by the frame and engaging saidnotched members for holding the jaws in clamping position and retainingthe last and upper to the support of said pull-over device.

5. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame having a plurality offlanges, a plurality of spaced jaws, rods vertically mounted in saidflanges and supporting said jaws, means for simultaneously moving saidrods to carry the jaws into clamping position, releasable means forholding the jaws in clamping position, and means for simultaneouslyreleasing said jaws from clamping position.

6. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame having a plurality offlanges, a plurality of spaced jaws, rods vertically mounted in saidflanges and supporting said jaws, a support arranged between said jawsfor receiving a last and positioned upper, means for simultaneouslymoving said rods to carry the jaws into clamping position upon a portionof the upper, releasable means for holding the jaws in clampingposition, and means for simultaneously releasing said jaws from clampingposition.

7. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame having aplurality offlanges, a plurality of pairs of spaced jaws, rods vertically mounted insaid flanges and supporting said jaws, springs supporting said jaws inopen position, means for simultaneously moving said rods to carry thepairs of jaws into clamping position, releasable means for holding thejaws in clamping position, and means for simultaneously releasing saidjaws from clamping position.

8. A portable pull-over device comp-rising a frame having a plurality offlanges, a plurality of spaced jaws in pairs, rods vertically mounted insaid flanges and supporting said jaws, springs supporting said jawsinopen position, a support arranged between said jaws for receiving a lastand positioned upper, means for simultaneously moving said rods to carrythe pairs of jaws into clamping position upon a portion of the upper,releasable means for holding the jaws in clamping position, and meansfor simultaneously releasing said jaws from clamping position.

9. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame having a rounded endand a plurality of flanges, a plurality of spaced jaws positionedadjacent to said rounded end, rods mounted in said flanges andsupporting said jaws; the latter being arranged in complemental pairs,springs holding said jaws in open position, means for simultaneouslymoving said rods to carry the jaws into clamping position, releasablelatches for holding the jaws in clamping position, and camming means forsimultaneously releasing said latches.

10. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame having a rounded endand a plurality of flanges, a plurality of spaced jaws positionedadjacent to said rounded end, rods mounted in said flanges andsupporting said jaws; the latter being arranged in complemental pairs,springs holding said jaws in open position, a support arranged betweensaid jaws for receiving a last and positioned upper, means forsimultaneously moving said rods to carry the jaws into clamping positionwith respect to a projecting portion of an upper positioned upon a lastcarried by said support, releasable latches for holding the jaws inclamping position, and a camming member pivotally connected to saidframe for simultaneously releasing said latches.

11. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame for receiving a lastand positioned upper, a plurality of independently operable spaced jawscarried thereby, means for moving said jaws to clamping position withrespect to a portion of the upper, means for holding the jaws inclamping position and retaining the last and upper to said frame, asupport for the pull-over 'device,-a Y

series of vertically movable plungers carried by said support, and meansfor operating said plungers to move the jaws of the pull-over device toclamping position.

12. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame for receiving a lastand positioned upper, a plurality of independently operable spaced jawscarried thereby, means for moving said jaws to clamping position withrespect to a portion of the upper, means for holding the jaws inclamping position and retaining the last and upper to said frame, atable for adjustably supporting the portable pull-over device, a seriesof plungers carried by said support and registering with the jaws of theportable pull-over device, and means for lowering said plungers to movethe jaws to clamping position.

13. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame for receiving a lastand positioned upper, a plurality of independently operable spaced jawscarried thereby, means for moving said jaws to clamping position withrespect to a portion of the upper, means for holding the jaws inclamping position and retaining the last and upper to said frame, asupport for the pull-over device,

a series of spring-pressed plungers carried thereby registering with thejaws of the portable pull-over device, and means for lowering theplungers to move the jaws to clamping position.

14. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame'for receiving a lastand positioned upper, a pluralityof independently operable spaced jawscarried thereby, means for moving said jaws to clamping position withrespect to a portion of the upper, means for holding the jaws inclamping position and retaining the last and upper to said frame, asupport for the pull-over device, aseries of vertically movable plungerscarried by said support, means for operating said plungers to move thejaws of the pull-over device to clamping position, and an adjustablemember carried by the .support for engaging the lasted upper; saidmember being positioned to engage said upper when the pull-over devicewith an upper is placed beneath said plungers.

15. A pull-over device comprising a portable frame having a rounded endand a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced flanges, a plurality ofindependently operable spaced jaws positioned adjacent to said .roundedend; said jaws being arranged in complemental pairs, rods verticallymounted in said flanges and supporting said jaws, means forsimultaneously moving said rods to carry the jaws .into clampingposition, and releasable means carried by the portable frame for holdingthe jaws in clamping position.

16. A pull-over device for lasting shoes comprising a,portable frame forreceiving a last and positioned upper, a plurality of pairs of spacedjaws carried by the frame, meansfor imparting movement to oneof eachpair of said jaws; the movement of said jaws carrying them against aportion of the upper and into clamping engagement with the other jaw ofeach pair, and means for holding the several pairs of jaws to theportable frame in clamping position.

'17. A pull-over device for lasting shoes comprising a portable frame, aplurality of pairs of spaced jaws carried by said frameQa supportcarried by the frame and arranged between said jaws upon which a lastand positioned upper may be placed, means for imparting movement to oneof each pair of said jaws; the movement of said jaws carrying themagainst a portion of the upper and into clamping engagement with theother jaw of each pair, and means for holding the several pairs of jawsin clamping position and retaining the last and upper to the portableframe.

18. A pull-over device for lasting shoes comprising a portable framesupporting a last and positioned upper, a plurality of pairs of spacedjaws carried by the frame, means for imparting movement to one of eachpair of said jaws whereby it may be carried into engagement with theupper and into clamping engagement'with the other jaw of each pair, andmeans for holding the several pairs of jaws in clamping position.

19. A pull-over device for lasting shoes comprising a portable frame, aplurality of pairs of spaced jaws carried thereby, a support carried bythe frame and arranged between said jaws upon which a last andpositioned upper may be placed, means for imparting movement to one ofeach pair of said jaws whereby it may be carried into engagement withthe upper and into clamping engagement with the other jaw of each pair,and means for holding the several pairs of jaws in clamping position andretaining the last and upper to the portable frame.

20. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame, a plurality ofspaced jaws carried thereby, a table arranged between said jaws uponwhich a last and positioned upper may be placed, means for moving saidjaws to clamping position with respect to said upper, and means forholding the jaws in clamping position and retaining the last and upperto said table.

21. A portable pull-over device comprising a frame, a plurality ofspaced jaws carried thereby, rods mounted in said frame and supportingsaid jaws, a table arranged between said jaws upon which a last andpositioned upper may be placed, means for moving said rods whereby thejaws may be brought to clamping position, engaging means carried by saidrods, and pivoted latches cooperating with said engaging means forholding the jaws in clamping position and retaining the last and upperto said pull-over device.

JOHN MILTON ROHRER.

